‘Vampire Diaries’ Season 7 Spoilers: ‘Originals’ Crossover Confirmed; Who Is Going To New Orleans?

Fans of “The Vampire Diaries” and “The Originals” should get ready for a crossover. The supernatural dramas play out in the same universe on the CW, but the characters rarely acknowledge each other’s existence. However, that’s about to change. The crossover news was revealed on the Television Critics Association press tour Sunday.

“You will see, organically, a crossover this year,” CW President Mark Pedowitz said (via TVLine). “Not of the size and scope of we do with ‘Arrow’ and ‘Flash.’ They have to make sense [storywise].”

Still, it sounds as if it’ll be bigger than the series’ past crossovers. While characters have jumped from one show to the other before, fans haven’t been required to watch both of them. However, this crossover will affect both “The Originals” Season 3 and “The Vampire Diaries” Season 7.

Showrunner Julie Plec gave more details to Entertainment Weekly, revealing that Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) will be the reason the shows connect. “The storylines happen to match up in a way that Stefan has to go on the run and seek safe haven,” Plec explained. “And lo and behold, New Orleans is that safe haven, and who does he come face-to face-with but Klaus Mikaelson. It’s a nice two-episode set of ‘Vampire Diaries’-‘Originals’ cohabitation.”

Plec has been vocal about how much she loves the dynamic between Stefan and Klaus (Joseph Morgan). “Who would I give [to ‘The Originals’]? Um, I would probably give them Stefan,” she told TheWrap in 2014 when asked about trading characters. “I just really like the Stefan-Klaus relationship. They can go on a little romp together.”

Before Stefan goes on the run, he’ll have to be brought back to life. In the midseason finale, he was stabbed with the Phoenix Stone sword, trapping his soul in his own personal hell.

The crossover will likely help bring audiences to their new timeslots on Friday nights. “The Vampire Diaries” Season 7 and “The Originals” Season 3 crossover does not have an exact date yet. Both shows will return with new episodes Friday, Jan. 29.